Read my lips, in both official languages: No new taxes for the middle class

MONTREAL – New taxes for the middle class “are not on the table,” Justin Trudeau told party faithful Saturday.

In his major keynote address to the party’s biennial policy convention, Trudeau structured much of the speech around the theme a of “real and fair chance” for middle class Canadians, especially in the personage of a fictional “Nathalie” whose household income totals about $80,000 and who struggles with debt and anxiety over her children’s future.

Trudeau said middle class Canadians are already facing enough costs and government needs to help keep their costs low.

“The middle class is already having a hard time making ends meet, and struggling with debt. Tax increases for them are not in the cards, and not on the table,” he said.

Conservatives have repeatedly raised the spectre of tax increases under a Trudeau government to pay for Liberal programs. They’ve also sought to cast doubt on the Liberal leader’s judgement, both on economic policy and otherwise.

Throughout Trudeau’s speech, the party was active on social media, with the @CPC_HQ Twitter account tweeting “Justin Trudeau says “the budget will balance itself”. Stephane Dion said it would take “discipline” #LPC14” four times in about a minute.

Trudeau’s answer for the Conservatives Saturday:

“And by the way, anyone who put Pamela Wallin, Mike Duffy, and Patrick Brazeau in the Senate, might want to be careful about making judgment a campaign issue.”